The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-10
HARPER TESTIFIES.
A Minute Statement of His Business,
His Connection with Wheat Deals
from His Side Explained.
He Took Part in the Speculation to
Save the Fidelity Bank.
Tho Prisoner Becomes Greatly Af-
fected, and Weeps.
Judge jackson Compelled TO Rebuke
Him Several Times--The Court-Room
Crowded TO Overlooking with
Spectators.

Spectators.
CINCINNATI, O., Dec. 0.-This proved to
be great day in the trial Of l.. H. Harper.
Until court opened ii was not known
whether Harper himself would become II
witness or not II has been said that his
counsel protested against disappearance on
the witness stand and that he as firmly In
sisted that his interest demanded that he
should tell his own story. This uncer-
tainty brought most unusual throng Of
spectators, Before 10 o'clock, the hour
fixed for opening court, all the available
space in the courtroom was occupied.
Even the space behind the railing, sacred
10 the officers of the court, was filled with
ladies and friends Of the court, among
whom was Hon. 4. I. Noycs, ex-United
States minister 10 France, and Hon. T. T..
Powell, late Democratic candidate ior GOV
ernor OF Ohio. At 1880 o'clock the
crowd was so great thatan order was issued
To admit no more, not even attorneys, un-
less seats should he vacated. Still the
corridors filed, and the poor baliG
at the door was worried be.
yond measure by tho appeals to
be let into the crush. The parties ap-
pcarcd promptly, and the impressive open
ing Of the court, during which everyone
stood until the closing words God save
the United States and these honorable
courts were delivered, left u hush upon
the animated scene. Harper appeared
pale and anxious, his wife weary, and her
sister, Miss Matthews, wore face bearing
| traces Of recent distress At 1850 o'clock
| the question was solved by Mr.. Blackburn
calling Mr.. Harper 20 the witness stand.
/ Before he took the oath Judge Jackson
asked. "pid You request 10 be placed on
the witness stand2'
Eyes, sir, was the answer
The oath was then administered, aud in
answer Ia questions by Mr.. blackburn,
the witness said he now resided in the
county jail, and told Of his previous blsi.
ness career, ending with the Fidelity Ma
| tional bank which he said lac orgnnizcd
out Of the Fidelity Safe Deposit and Trust
company. lie smiled WHEN asked II hC
KNOW J. W. Wiltshire. and went on 10 do.
tail Nilshirc's connection With the Fidui-
| ify National tank. lie. said that In Sep
tembcr, 1885, he was induced hy Wishirc
20 make him loan oi 5000 Wiltshire,
| at that time. wns a debtor Ia the bank To-
the amount of S2OO.OOO and he rcprc.
scntcd 10 Harper that II this loan was not
made the bank would suffer. lie accom-
modatcd him upon his agreeing to
| transfer certain real estate aud also 100
shares NJ Fidelity National bank at par,
/ then worth : 10. All went we'll until
/ October, when witness returned from "A
| little dinner party, composed NJ Wilshir,
ands0mc otlic'n ul the bank. and found that
duringhis absence wiltshire, EckcH& Co. y
check for s2G, 900 on the tiri National
bank had been returned not good. That
cheek Wiltshire said be- WIS unable to
make good, aud the bank was compelled
to carry Il. Another DAY, when witness
was nj Wiltshire. Eckcri Il Co. h. hc got Hon
kinsto wire ssO, 900 credit tu Chicago. upon
certified checks At the cl0sc NJ business
hours, that day, lac found Wiltshire. Erkprt
a Co.'S account Oycrdriwn $4,000. with
the former 80, 900. their debt Ia the bank
Of S2O1ODO. and their debt to him ~ sii.-
600 lac felt that they Wcp in dangerous
| position. Wiltshire transferred Ia him the
real cslitc and the stock which be- turned
over 10 the bank llc siurincd at vii.
shirc, but could ct nothing out of him.
| lie then suggested IA the cashier a. take q
call loan from WilshiW, Eckcn X Co.
to sGuaU their account and save the
cashier.
In answer 10 direct questions from Nr.
Blackburn, Mr. llarporstitod unpaoryedly
that hc never gave nm orlcr of any Kind
Ia Mr.. Eckcrt to buy gruin Tor him la Chi.
cagO, aud hc Was equally sweeping aud
explicit in saying that be- never authorized
Mr. Wilshirr a. buy main ipr him In Chi
| cngo or elsewhere. This h. the point ui
the whole cnso, aud Is IN direct conflict
| with The testimony Of both Mr. Wiltshire
and Mr. EckcH.
Mr.. Blackburn then took up the nc.
counts of the bank with the Firt National.
Of New York, whcw large halancrs were
carried, and Mr. Harper WIS called on to
/ explain all these transactions. lle lid -
/ with great minuicncs, referring often ~
the books oi the bank In general, his
excuse Tor the irregularities WIS that thc
bank WIS put into trouble by Wiltshire,
/ Eckcrt 4 60. b debt and be- used what.
ever methods hc could 10 Eivc the bank
and tide over nnain. Ills testimony was
not ended NJ the noon adjournment
lInrpot'H manner On the Htuud showed
| what difficult man lac has been ior his
/ attorneys t0 manage. lie took the Jury
/ into his confidence and talked tO thcm
with the purpose Of convincing them, but
/ al the time lac WIS tansgrrpiing the rules
/ Of evidence, as explained 30 him time and
again by Judge jackson. lie argued his
case ~ hc went along until judge Jack.
/ sons pbuko began ~ bear the tones oi
/ impalencc lie testified dozen tunes to
occurrences which lac did not witness, but
of which somebody had told him. Every
/ question furnished new opportunity Tor
/ him tO say what his intentions were. Il
seemed like presumption after llapcra
sweeping denial that hc had ever In any
way ordered Wiltshire ~ buy wheat for
/ him In Chicago or elsewhere, ior his coun-
/ spl a. hand him three notes, bearing the
initials o. r., T.. L. H., and asked him 10
explain them. Harper went on 10 say
/ that when Wilship In March still owed
the bank aud him those largo sums, lac
insisted on his selling ont bis wheat deal
~ a. ~ pay his debts. Wiltshire said 10 do
~ safely be- should buy somo that day 10
/ keep up the market and then hc could soil
out to advantage the next day. "Ilc askod
/ my ADVICE said Harper 'Rnd gave H.
I said ~ him, Make ont your order 10 buy
/ June wheat, aud II Il iB ill iight III o. X
| H. NJ Wiltshire scntto hank this note that
| lao MAS going 10 buy that day ~, 900 bush.